This time, we will introduce the history of Kochi Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Katsuo no Tataki."

Kochi Prefecture is a city located in the Shikoku region and is known for a variety of local specialties, including local cuisine and alcohol.

The prefecture has a warm climate that makes it comfortable to live in all year round, and is known for having many active, energetic, and cheerful people.

In this article, we will introduce the delicious local B-class gourmet food of Kochi Prefecture, "Katsuo no Tataki," as well as tourist spots in Kochi Prefecture!

What is bonito tataki?

Bonito is the prefectural fish of Kochi Prefecture and is eaten on a daily basis.

One of the most famous dishes is bonito tataki, a dish made with bonito seasoned with garlic, onion, green onion, and other seasonings, and is popular not only in restaurants but also as a home-cooked dish.

In Kochi Prefecture, bonito is eaten all year round except for a short period in winter. In particular, the bonito caught in the fall is known for being delicious and full of fat.

In Kochi Prefecture, it is a standard dish of "Sarabachi cuisine," an indispensable dish at ceremonial occasions and other events.

The history of seared bonito

It is said that the bonito tataki that fishermen ate on their boats long ago began as a staff meal.

In the past, there was no technology to preserve food, so a cooking method called tataki was invented to eat bonito that had lost its freshness on the boat.

By making bonito into tataki, the fish's characteristic odor is reduced, making it easier to eat, and this is why it has become a popular dish throughout the country.

The "tataki" in the name Katsuo no Tataki literally means "to pound," and it is said that this name came from the fact that when cooking, the fish is sprinkled with salt and sauce and pounded to allow the flavors to blend.

Seared bonito has now become a national dish, but in Kochi Prefecture, each region and community has its own unique style and recipe.

In Kochi Prefecture, where tataki dishes are popular, depending on the region, in addition to bonito, fish such as moray eel, meat, shiitake mushrooms, pumpkins, and eggplants are also eaten as tataki.

Vegetable tataki is usually boiled or deep-fried and served with sauce and condiments. There is also tataki that combines vegetables and fish, allowing you to enjoy a combination of seasonal ingredients.

How to make bonito tataki

From here, I will introduce how to make bonito tataki.

First, prepare 300g of bonito fillets, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of yuzu vinegar, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 green onion, a little onion, and 4 to 5 cloves of garlic.

Cut the filleted bonito into three pieces, separate the back and belly, place it on a grill and hold it over the flame to sear all three sides.

After that, cut the seared bonito into thick slices, sprinkle salt on it and pound it on a cutting board, then sprinkle half the amount of yuzu vinegar and soy sauce on it and pound it.

Once served on a plate, sprinkle thinly sliced garlic over the bonito, and then sprinkle finely chopped green onions and thinly sliced onions on top, if desired.

Finally, add the remaining yuzu vinegar and soy sauce and it's done.

Tourist spots in Kochi Prefecture

From here, I will introduce some tourist spots in Kochi Prefecture.

Katsurahama

Katsurahama Beach is one of Kochi Prefecture's most scenic spots.

This is a coast that stretches out in a bow shape between the mouth of Urado Bay, Ryuzu Cape and Ryuo Cape, and is known as a place where you can see the beautiful moon, so much so that there is a lyric in the Yosakoi dance that goes, "Katsurahama is a famous spot for viewing the moon."

The area is full of attractions, including a bronze statue of Sakamoto Ryoma, a patriot of the late Edo period, at the nearby Ryuzu Cape, the Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum, and Katsurahama Aquarium, where you can enjoy sea lion shows.

Kochi Castle

Kochi Castle is a famous castle on the southern coast that was built by the first lord of the Tosa domain, Yamauchi Kazutoyo.

The three-story, six-floor castle tower, Kaitokukan (Honmaru Palace), Otemon Gate, and 15 other buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

Kochi Castle and the surrounding Kochi Park are visited by many tourists throughout the year, with cherry blossoms in full bloom in the spring and red and yellow autumn leaves in the fall.

Shimanto River

The Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku, meandering through the three cities of Nakatosa Town, Shimanto Town, and Shimanto City, with a total length of 196 km.

If you board a pleasure boat, you can get a close-up look at the mountains of Shikoku and the gently flowing Shimanto River.

Additionally, Imanari Bridge, located close to Shimanto City, is a popular photo spot.

Access to Kochi Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Kochi Prefecture.

If you are coming from Tokyo, we recommend flying. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get from Haneda Airport to Kochi Airport. Furthermore, it is also easy to get to the city center of Kochi Prefecture by train, so we recommend it.

If you are traveling from Osaka, we recommend taking the express bus. It takes about four hours to get from Osaka Station JR Express Bus Terminal to Kochi Station, and the fare is cheaper than other means of transportation.

Location of Kochi Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced Kochi Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Tuna Tataki."

Seared bonito may seem like a luxurious dish, but what's surprising is that it was originally served as a meal for fishermen in Kochi Prefecture.

Kochi Prefecture is also rich in nature and has many relaxing tourist spots, so be sure to visit them!

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